Jeremy Lynds may be just 27 years old, but he’s skillfully managing the construction of a new apartment complex in Truro — all while making sure safety is the team’s top priority.
Lonnie Fahey, construction superintendent with Global Construction, says although it’s Lynds’ first time leading a project of this magnitude, “he’s where he should be.”
“He’s maintaining a standard everyone should strive for, and he is managing a crew that’s all older than him — some of them twice his age,” says Fahey. “He’s got around nine workers a day, plus subtrades, and he always has a great attitude and willingness to get the job done.”
The 12-unit apartment complex on Ford Street in Truro is going to be 35 feet tall and include an underground parking structure. Fahey says working so high off the ground can be a serious risk during a project like this, and there are also risks surrounding the use of power tools, air tools and other equipment.
“It’s very important to make sure everybody gets home at the end of the day. Everyone has a family they want to get home to,” says Fahey. “Jeremy is always concerned with making sure everybody makes it home.”
Fahey has worked on construction projects as far away as Bermuda and Japan, and says Lynds is “one of the best (he’s) ever seen” at managing project safety.
Enger Safety is in charge of safety for all of Global Construction’s projects, and owner Kody Messenger agrees that Lynds is doing “exceptionally well” despite his age.
“Safety should never be a negative system. When companies focus on what’s wrong, they always bring productivity and morale down,” says Messenger. “Jeremy and I focus on positive teaching instead of discipline. A worker will only do the right thing consistently if they understand why and how it’s important.”
Lynds says he can always count on Messenger when any safety issues arrive on the job site.
“All I do is call Neil and he comes right down to help me figure it out,” says Lynds. “Without him, I’d be spending most of my day filling out paperwork, but he knows paperwork isn’t what I need to be focusing on. I need to be focusing on the safety of my guys.”
While Lynds has been the lead on quite a few projects, the Ford Street apartment complex is his biggest job so far. Construction started back in March, and the plan is to have tenants settled into their brand-new units by Christmas.
Lynds says Messenger and the Enger Safety team “can’t get over how well” things have been going on the Ford Street project.
“He’s been by multiple times for assessments, and everything’s been perfect,” says Lynds. “I’m really proud of my guys. They’re a huge aspect of this job for me, and I rely on them.”
Each morning on the job site, Lynds leads a “toolbox meeting” with the entire crew before they begin working.
“We discuss what we’re going to be doing, the potential safety hazards and what we’re going to do to stay safe,” says Lynds. “Whenever we change tasks, I do a separate hazard assessment on what that task will involve.”
Lynds says he’s picky about keeping a tidy job-site because he thinks it prevents many accidents before they can happen.
“We probably spend one full day a week cleaning the whole site — making a scrap pile and getting all those materials into the dumpster,” says Lynds. “It looks more presentable, but it’s mostly to eliminate tripping hazards and keep everyone safe.”
After he graduated from high school, the North River native completed the two-year carpentry program at NSCC in Stellarton and went on to work for his brother Trevor’s company, TML Construction. They started with a small team, but now Lynds says they’re up to a crew of about 12.
Lynds says the construction industry has been evolving and safety culture is, thankfully, top of mind for most workers.
“With us, safety just comes naturally because I preach it so much,” says Lynds. “I can’t take full credit, though, because the crew here is incredible. We all just want to make sure everybody gets home safely at the end of the day.”
